In 2008, the total workforce in the greater Oslo region (5 counties) numbered 1,020,000 people. The greater Oslo region has several higher educational institutions and is home to more than 73,000 students. The University of Oslo is the largest educational institution with 27,700 students and 5,900 employees. 

Top labour productivity

OECD estimates of labour productivity levels put Norway on top together with Luxembourg (2008). GDP per hour worked is more than 30 percent higher in Norway than the benchmark economy USA.

GDP per hour worked as percentage of the US 2008

1. Luxembourg (140,4)
2. Norway (136,0)
3. Netherlands (100,4)
4. United States (100,0)
5. Ireland (98,9)
6. Belgium (97,7)
7. France (96,2)
8. Germany (91,4)
9. Sweden (83,1)
10. Austria (82,5)
Source: OECD Productivity Database 2008

Norway – among Europe's top three secondary education countries

More than 88 per cent of Norwegians between 25 and 64 have completed at least higher secondary education (2005) and as much as 32 percent (16 years or above) has education at the tertiary level.

1. Czech Republic (89.9)
2. Estonia (89.1)
3. Norway (88.4)
Source: Eurostat, 2006

Focusing on the labour force, one out of four employees has successfully completed tertiary education in a science or technology field or is employed in a science and technology occupation. This puts Norway (together with Denmark) at the top in Europe, measured as percent of labour force in 2004, according to Eurostat (2006).

Oslo – among Europe's top three tertiary education regions 

Nearly half of those with education at the tertiary level in Norway live in the Oslo region (Oslo and Akershus), placing it second among Europe’s top three tertiary education regions in 2003, after the Province of Brabant Wallon in Belgium. 

1. Brabant Wallon (46,3)
2. Oslo region (42)
3. Inner London (37,5)
Source: Eurostat Statistics in Focus 11/2004 (percent).

Large investments in education

Investment in education per student at tertiary level is high in Norway compared to the rest of Europe. This is an indicator of the country’s commitment to and the quality of higher education. Norway is also ranking third among the countries in Europe pertaining to total education expenditure as percentage of GDP (only surpassed by Denmark and Iceland), according to Eurostat (2006). 

Projections of the population and labour force indicate a continued increase in the number of persons with higher education in Norway. According to Statistics Norway (2005) between 2001 and 2030 the number of persons in the Norwegian labour force with higher education will increase by 190 000 or almost 40 per cent. The number of persons with longer higher education is expected to increase by almost 50 per cent in the same period, i.e. approximately 64 000 persons.